JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Georgia Southern women's tennis collected its first win over North Florida in program history on Friday, defeating the Ospreys by a 5-2 score in Jacksonville.

The Eagles (3-0) had dropped the 16 previous meetings between the two schools in a series that dates back to 1984. Last year, the Ospreys (2-1) won a tight 4-3 matchup in Statesboro.

Like last year's meeting, North Florida took the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, but the Eagles stormed back during singles play, winning four of six first sets. The Ospreys would notch a quick win at No. 5 singles, but Nanaka Kijima earned a 6-2, 6-3 win over Anslee Long at No. 4 singles and Lindsay Tulenko would pick up a 7-6 (3), 6-2 win over Kendall Nash at No. 3 singles to tie the match up at 2-all.

All three of the remaining singles matches went to third sets, and the Eagles prevailed in all three. Silvia Martinez delivered a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 win over Annabelle Davis at No. 1 singles, then Ninon Martinache clinched the victory with a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 win over Amy Kaplan at No. 2 singles. Paula Hijos then wrapped up singles with a 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-4 win over Jasmin Makela at No. 6 singles.

"What can I say?" Georgia Southern head women's tennis coach Sean McCaffrey said. "These ladies know how to handle adversity. It's as if we've started our season right where we finished in April of last year, with something to prove and working to accomplish. Today's relentless attitude and sense of belief was apparent throughout the match. Even after dropping the doubles point, I felt as if the ladies were dialed in to make this a very long day for UNF. And they did.

"We've heard the stories about what our past records have been against teams over the years, and that means nothing to us," McCaffrey said. "This team is playing in the moment with something to prove. This was a great team victory and now we will have a quick turnaround to prepare for a very tough match against Elon tomorrow here in Jacksonville."

Georgia Southern hosts the Phoenix in a 10 a.m. match to be played at the University of North Florida on Saturday morning. It's the first meeting between the two former SoCon rivals since 2014, when the Eagles moved to the Sun Belt and Elon moved to the CAA.

RESULTS
Singles
1. Silvia Martinez (GS) def. Annabelle Davis (UNF) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
2. Ninon Martinache (GS) def. Amy Kaplan (UNF) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
3. Lindsay Tulenko (GS) def. Kendall Nash (UNF) 7-6 (3), 6-2
4. Nanaka Kijima (GS) def. Anslee Long (UNF) 6-2, 6-3
5. Alisa Lyshko (UNF) def. Sophie Wagemaker (GS) 6-0, 6-1
6. Paula Hijos (GS) def. Jasmin Makela (UNF) 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-4

Doubles
1. Annabelle Davis/Amy Kaplan (UNF) def. Silvia Martinez/Lindsay Tulenko (GS) 6-2
2. Kendall Nash/Anslee Long (UNF) def. Sonja Keranen/Ninon Martinache (GS) 6-2
3. Sophie Wagemaker/Mackenzie Leopold (GS) led Alisa Lyshko/Jasmin Makela (UNF) 5-3, unfinished